Murray Greys a good fit for live export trade

May 18, 2017

By Kim Woods
Outcross Media

A specialist supplier to the Middle East live export trade has proven the Murray Grey’s market suitability across almost two decades.

The breed’s temperament and carcass quality will mean the Murray Grey could take advantage of the live export trade’s increasing focus on meat eating quality, according to Western Australian producer Dale Park.

Dale and his wife Marian farm the 1619ha property, “Wandamurra”, at Badgingarra, 200km north of Perth, and have turned off Murray Grey bull calves to feedlot markets in Turkey and Israel for more than 15 years.

The last consignment of bull calves sold for an average of 360c/kg or $900 on-farm (for cattle up to 300kg liveweight) through Livestock Shipping Services.

“Turning off the young stock early allows us to carry more breeders,’’ Mr Park said.

“The price of young bulls while its quite good, it’s not that much above what we have been able to get for 400-500kg steers so we are watching what the feeder market does.

“Young bulls will go over 300kg quite quickly, resulting in a drop in price, so the heavier cattle are better off being sold into the steer market.’’

According to the WA Department of Agriculture and Food, Israel consumed 15 per cent of the state’s live export trade in 2016, and Turkey five per cent.

Mr Park said the live trade had been consistent over the years but the downside was on-farm bull management.

He said education at yard weaning and well-maintained fences combined with the breed’s natural docility streamlined management.

Mr Park said Murray Grey had won respect in WA’s southern markets on temperament, carcass shape and environmental adaptability.

He said the breed was also a good fit on the export market with an increasing focus on carcass quality.

“They come into their own when graded on the Meat Standards Australia Index,’’ he said.